Job Title
Clinical Quality Nurse Facilitator for integrated primary and community care
Is your role clinical or non-clinical?
Clinical
When you were in school, did you want to join the NHS?
Yes, ever since I was a child I wanted to be a nurse.
Tell us about your job
A typical day starts from home. My role is hybrid between working from home and out on visits or at the office. I will check my emails and see if anything urgent has come in from practice nurses or non medical primary care workforce. As a facilitator my role is to bring together learning and development/innovation and enquiry through the focus of quality improvement. I achieve this by holding regular forums with the non medical workforce across Primary Care, advocating for their learning and development opportunities and offering day to day support with issues that may arise in practice. Networking is a large part of my role.
How did you come to work in the NHS?
I left school with 10 GCSE grades A-C and went on to college to complete my A levels. I completed 3 A levels and then went on to University to do a degree in Adult Nursing. Once qualified I joined the NHS and started as a staff nurse in Intensive Care. I completed many further training courses in that role and university credited courses to expand my critical care knowledge. After 10 years I left ICU and went into Primary Care as a practice nurse. This was very ‘back to basics’ nursing and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Again, supported to learn and develop I completed many university accredited courses in minor illness, diabetes management and paediatric assessment. 6 months ago my current role within the ICB was advertised and I jumped at the opportunity to further my career in a new direction.
What are some challenges?
Engagement with a fast evolving staff base is challenging. Change can also be a slow process which adds challenges.
What do you love about your job?
I love the opportunity this role gives me to affect change. To implement projects and innovations that have a positive effect on the workforce.
Which Clinical colleagues support you in your role?
Clinical lead ICB, Head of Quality, Deputy director of quality and nursing. GPs, Practice nurses and Pharmacists
Which Non-clinical colleagues support you in your role?
Quality administrators. Primary Care directors and transformation leads.
Is there career progression in your role and how would you get there?
Yes. Within ICB and the quality team. I am new to the team so would need more experience but natural progression for this role is into head of quality role or working within local training hubs. I would ideally need to be completing a masters qualification for these roles.
What would you say to a young person thinking of joining the NHS?
Do it! The NHS offers so many opportunities to train, learn and progress within what is a stable and diverse workplace.